Map, Compass & GPS

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Backpacking can be a great way to experience the beauty of
nature and get away from the

chaos of everyday life. However, if you find
yourself weighted down with a pack full of heavy equipment, you may have a hard
time enjoying the journey. You will find that you can still carry everything
you need down to your camo wallet and be lightweight
enough to hike with ease. Here are 4 practical ways to cut weight for your next
backpacking trip.

Clothing

What you wear while you hike can make a big difference in
the overall weight you are carrying. The most important place to cut weight
with your clothing is your hiking boots. Heavy boots will weigh you down,
creating greater fatigue in your knees and legs with every step.

Look for comfortable, durable, lightweight hiking boots.
Try them on before purchasing to be sure they fit your feet well. If you have
to purchase boots online, check the weight specs so you can tell if the boots
you are ordering are truly lightweight.

Pants, shirts, and socks should also be lightweight.
Clothing made of breathable, synthetic materials can provide extra comfort as
they often wick moisture away from your body. Try to avoid cotton as it is
bulky, relatively heavy, and absorbs sweat. While these pieces of clothing are
not going to make as big of a difference as your hiking boots, cutting their
bulk and weight will still make hiking easier.

Equipment

The heaviest piece of equipment you will have is your
tent. You can cut weight here by purchasing a lightweight tent or if you can't
purchase a new tent, check the weather before you leave. If there is no chance
of rain, you may be able to leave the rain fly at home. However, you do risk
getting caught in an unexpected storm.

Another possibility is to bring a ground cover and/or tarp
to create a shelter that allows you to sleep under the stars. In this case, you
lose the weight of tent poles, rain fly, and ground cover. Be sure to practice
making your shelter before you go so that you are prepared to set it up.

Food

Food makes up another significant portion of the weight
that you carry. Replace your food with freeze dried meals because they are
lightweight and easy to prepare. These meals have zero moisture, which means
you are carrying only the essential nutrients. As long as you have access to
enough water on the trip, you will have all the food that you need. Along with
your food, a small, simple way to cut weight is to use plastic eating utensils.
A plastic fork, spoon, knife, and plate eliminate the extra weight of
silverware.

Use Items for
Multiple Purposes

You can cut weight without having to invest in more
lightweight gear by rethinking what you are already taking with you. For
example, instead of packing a pillow, stuff your extra pants and shirt inside
your coat or sweatshirt and use it as a pillow. Instead of packing pajamas,
either sleep in your clean clothes and wear them the next day or sleep in your
dirty clothes and put on your clean clothes in the morning.

Backpack with the
Essentials

As you take the time to go through your backpacking
equipment and clothing, you will start to find the items that can be purchased
in a lightweight or smaller version. After going through those items, creative
thinking will help you to reach the pack weight that you want. Once you've gone
lightweight, you'll be able to enjoy your trip more fully.

Outdoor enthusiast, turned blogger Rhett Davis brings his passion for all
things outdoors into everything he writes. Rhett’s perfect Saturday is a morning
on the lake, afternoon with the BBQ and an evening with family.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The
first step is to go to the Satellite Information page. Ideally at
least 4 of the green icons will be displayed. The green icons represent satellites being tracked. It is critical
to have no less than 4 satellites for GPS accuracy.

Next, make sure that the receiver is not in the DEMO mode.In DEMO mode no satellites will be
tracked.To regain GPS accuracy go to
the main menu>select SETUP>select SYSTEM>select GPS; see below.

Once
the GPS receiver is correctly set up the hiker will begin to track satellites
almost immediately.

To
further improve GPS accuracy insure the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) option
is enabled. WAAS will improve accuracy
to +/- 3 meters. WAAS can be enabled
from the same screen that DEMO was removed.
Notice the letter D on the satellite information page indicating signal
reception; see the image below.

If
the WAAS correction can’t be received the GPS will be accurate to +/- 15
meters.More informaition relating to GPS Accuracy.

Monday, May 23, 2016

The package says that your Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver is accurate to +/- 15 meters and some advertise +/- 3 meters.Just what does that mean to you?

Accuracy depends on several things, most of which are beyond your control.For example, it is reasonable to expect a new GPS with the latest antenna, circuitry, processor capability and memory technology will perform better than one made in 2005.The number of satellites signals a receiver acquires helps too; you’ll need at least four.

The
graphic below tells an interesting story. Through the center of the
topographic map, marked with dashed lines is the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in
Oregon’s Cascades mountain range. Next to the trail is my track log (in
red) downloaded from my GPS to my Terrain Navigator software. The track
log is my electronic path calculated by the receiver.

I
walked on the PCT the entire time.

My GPS receiver was in a holster
attached to the shoulder straps of my backpack. The receiver’s antenna
was exposed but only received data from my front and straight up, my chest
blocked signals from behind my back.

As
the green of the map indicates I was in a forested area. Tree canopy was moderately
thick and may have interfered with signal reception.

Further,
I was on the move the entire time, stopping only occasionally.

Obviously,
there is a distinct difference between the map and the track log.

To
improve the accuracy of my track information I could do three things.
First, I would have removed the receiver from the holster. Second, I
could have moved into an area clear of forest canopy. Third, I would give the
GPS time to develop good satellite tracking information.

I have found that with older receivers moving out from
underneath canopy and giving the unit time to calculate position data is
extremely important. A new Garmin 62 might have accurate position
information in less than 20 seconds while an older Garmin Map60CS might take
a minute.

Many
people tend to think that a GPS receiver pinpoints their position exactly
where they are standing all the time. A hiker’s position is within the
diameter of the specifications of the model. If a receiver is accurate
to +/- 15 meters (a radius) the unit’s calculated position will be somewhere
inside the 30 meter diameter of a circle. The accuracy could
improve.

In
my GPS classes I recommend to my students to consider that they are traveling
down a lane in the backcountry. The size and width of the lane might
grow or shrink depending on the number of satellites received and if terrain
is blocking signals.

Test
your receiver’s accuracy at home.

Find
a quiet street or side walk to view how position accuracy changes.
Ideally it will be oriented true north and south. Using your GPS
receiver and compass, walk true north and look at your latitude and
longitude. Because lines of longitude are also oriented true north and
south that data shouldn’t change. Walk about 100 yards; again going
true north. Observe how much the longitude coordinates change.
Maneuver to stay on the original longitude and see how far off you’ll have to
wander from your planned track.

Friday, May 20, 2016

In a previous post I discussed the concept of terrain association. Terrain association is
the process of visually confirming
a map to land features.

A subset of
terrain association is the use of handrails.
Handrails are linear features found on a map and visually correlated to observed
land features. As in a building, a
stairway’s handrail provides direction for a walkers travel down to another
level.

Examples of handrails
include roads, rivers, trails and railroad beds. Handrails can be particularly useful when
they run parallel to ones’ direction of travel.

Outdoor Quest //Blake Miller image

Highway 126
and Cache Creek are distinct linear features that could serve as a handrail.

In the map
above notice that the red direction of travel line parallels Highway 126.

In this example Highway 126 could also be a
backstop to alert the hiker that crossing the roadway would take them in the
wrong direction.

Be alert for
a handrail’s change of direction. There
may be prominent land features that will alert the backcountry traveler to such
a change. A butte or building might be
adjacent or near to a change in direction.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

If there
were ever an emergency, then the first 10 items anyone would want in bulk would
be the 10 items below in the list. They have been selected carefully for a
number of reasons. They're easy to store, and many of them are essential
nutritionally. Here are 10 foods absolutely necessary for an emergency food
plan.

25
Pounds of a Variety of Rice

Rice is a
must have in, and it should be at the top of the list for anyone starting in food storage planning. 25
pounds is a lot of rice, but it may be necessary. Rice is nutritious and
filling, and once the plan begins to expand, then other items can be added to
the inventory to make the rice more appetizing. It is recommended to get a
combination of white and brown rice. This is because of the health benefits of
brown rice and the longer shelf life of white rice. It is a staple to have in
the grain group, especially since it is important to still cover the four food
groups.

At Least 25 Cans of Vegetables

Do not let
taste and preference be the guide hand when selecting vegetables. There needs
to be a mix of different kinds vegetables in this plan for a very good reason,
which is nutrition. Certain vegetables offer certain important vitamins,
nutrients and antioxidants. Mix this selection up with greens, carrots, canned
potatoes and anything else available different from the rest.

25
Cans Minimum of Various Fruit

Canned
fruit usually comes in a sweet syrup, and it tastes pretty good too. Aside from
the taste, the selection of fruit should be varied like the vegetables for the
same reason. Get a variety to cover as many different vitamins and nutrients as
possible, and the sugar in fruit is also good fuel for the body. The idea
behind the variety of fruit and vegetables is stave off any nutritional
deficiencies.

Five Pounds of Oats

Oatmeal
is packed with nutrition and fiber. Fiber is extremely good for the human body.
Besides keeping us regular, it slows down the absorption of glucose in the
flood, and it will help prevent crashing, and it's good for people with
diabetes or during pregnancyaccording to Healthline which is
an equally important thing to consider when preparing for emergencies even if
you are planning for newborn adoption. It is
also very filling in small amounts.

25
Cans of Various Meat

All kinds
of meat come available in a can like shrimp, salmon, clams, tuna, chicken, beef
stew and even those little Vienna sausages and Spam. Again, try and go for a
variety, but the main reason for meat on the shopping list is protein. Protein
is essential to live, and it repairs cells and builds muscle. Any kind of
injuries sustained by someone will need protein to heal.

Five
Pounds of Powdered Milk

Milk is
on the list for a couple of reasons, and it also completes the food groups.
Milk is full of nutrients and protein, and it is also a great source of Vitamin
D, which will be vital in case having to stay out of the sun for awhile is
necessary. It can also be added to oatmeal and other grains.

Three Large Jars Powdered Fruit
Drink Mixes Fortified With Vitamin C

This will
add some flavor to an unfortunate situation, and the Vitamin C fortification
helps boost the immune system, and depending on how long the food plan is
necessary, Vitamin C is something no one wants to be deficient in. DermNet NZ warns a
Vitamin C deficiency could result in the old affliction of scurvy.

Five Pounds of Salt

Salt is a
must when making a food prepping list. It is perfect for enhancing flavor,
preserving food and it prevents the sodium deficiency of Hyponatremia, which
has some very nasty symptoms. Salt is a necessary part of the human diet.

Five
Pounds of Dried Pasta

This is
filling, and it is a comfort food. A comfort food is something to be cherished
if an emergency ever occurs.

Five Large Jars or Cans of Pasta
Sauce

There is
no scientific explanation for this item, but it does go well with the pasta,
and it is an easy way to make a filling meal.

The basic
food groups have been taken care of, and everything has a large, reasonable
amount to be purchased and stored. This list is put together with nutritional
deficiencies in mind. It was also meant to balance nutrition with taste and
comfort. It is never too late to prepare for an emergency.

Lee Flynn is a freelance writer. Through small local workshops and articles, Lee trains and teaches others on home preparation, healthy living, food storage techniques, and self reliance.

About Me

Avid outdoorsman in all seasons. Always learning to improve my knowledge-base and to pass on lessons learned. Search and Rescue volunteer, amateur ham radio operator, retired Naval officer. I focus on keeping my family and students safe and prepared to spend an unexpected night out. Founded Outdoor Quest in 1998. I teach land navigation (both compass/map and GPS applications), and wilderness survival.